"Who is Brother Ma Zi inviting that warrants such seriousness, even requiring a whole day of preparation?"
Upon hearing Hu Ma’s instructions, both Li and the slightly cheered Zhou Datong displayed sowhat awkward expressions. Observing the slightly stern look on Hu Ma’s face, they dared not inquire further.
The evening passed with everyone retiring early. The following morning, Li brought two helpers to prepare so food and drinks at the Manor, even moving in square tables, arranging them on either side. The at and wine were procured from the town and were of good quality.
Throughout that day, Hu Ma indeed did nothing but sit at the table, waiting. Li and the others, seeing the sky darken without any signs, assud Hu Ma was summoning so evil spirits; familiar with such situations, they quickly locked themselves in their rooms.
Hu Ma waited in silence for a long ti. It was nearing 7 p.m. when the sound of the Manor’s gate creaking open reached him.
He looked up and saw a shadow swiftly leading a horse through the gate, closing it behind. This person, thin and covered in dust, turned around and first saw Hu Ma sitting beside the square table under the red lantern, staring intently at him. Suddenly, his eyes stung with emotion. He quietly tied the horse at the entrance and walked toward Hu Ma with his head lowered.
"Brother Hu..."
The visitor was Yang Gong. Without even asking whom the banquet Hu Ma prepared was for, he said, "My brother died. It was Shen Bangzi, you’ve seen him before..."
"Was it him?"
Hearing this, Hu Ma felt a slight tremor in his heart. He indeed recalled seeing this brother beside Yang Gong.
Just yesterday, he had noticed Yang Gong’s entourage, though nurous, was full of vulnerabilities. He had no idea where trouble would strike and couldn’t find a way to warn him. Unexpectedly, misfortune had struck, and it had struck soone Hu Ma was familiar with from the Red Lantern Society.
"Have a seat."
He sighed softly, brought over a teapot from the table, and said, "Have so tea first."
Yang Gong took a deep breath and said, "I want wine."
Hu Ma nodded, switched to wine for him, and poured it into the bowl in front of him. Yang Gong raised it, poured half on the ground, and then drank the rest in one gulp.
After Yang Gong finished drinking, Hu Ma filled another bowl for him and began, "Brother, I know you’re hurting inside and expected you to co to , but you’ve made a mistake.
"I understand you’re protecting the people, comndable indeed. But with so many brothers following you, risking their lives, you must be responsible for them.
"Things have escalated, and you abandoned them to co here alone. Have you considered the consequences?
"If the enemy attacks, what will happen?
"If you were seen coming here, then what?"
"This..."
Yang Gong looked up at Hu Ma, feeling as if his calm eyes knew everything. He had countless questions swirling inside but felt too weary to voice them. He rely gave a bitter smile and said, "I know it’s wrong, but I had to co."
"That..."
He hesitated for a mont before quietly explaining, "Before coming, I had them lead everyone back to the mountains and set up guards, thinking a night away wouldn’t matter.
"I told them I’m just coming to gather so information...
"Plus, you previously had that little ghost warn about their plan to steal grain, so my visit to gather intel...
"Sort of fits, doesn’t it?" His voice weakened.
Hu Ma thought for a mont and chuckled, "Alone in enemy territory, gathering intel—that story holds water. I suppose you can spin a tale."
Seeing Hu Ma’s smile, Yang Gong relaxed suddenly.
They had always been equals, never having differences in stature. In front of Hu Ma, Yang Gong was rash compared to his friend’s steadiness. Thus, after impulsive actions, he often felt a latent fear of Hu Ma. Seeing him laugh now, he breathed a sigh of relief and said:
"I’m not just gathering information. Actually, I was hoping, Brother Hu..."
He paused slightly, earnestly looking at Hu Ma, "Will you venture with ? With you by my side, I’d feel secure."
Hu Ma sighed and said, "I know you’re undertaking a grand venture, but I’m not too interested in these affairs. I just want a peaceful life. Even though I’ve been involved lately, it was due to enemies forcing my hand; circumstances wouldn’t allow otherwise.
"But even now, it’s nothing but trouble. If I joined your endeavors, I’d probably just drag you down."
"Enemies?"
Yang Gong was startled, eyes wide. "Never heard you ntion? Who are your enemies? I’ll deal with them for you."
"Rember your words."
Hu Ma gave him a glance and said, "There’ll be a chance in the future."
Pouring more wine for him, he asked, "So, did you co all the way here tonight just to discuss this with ?"
"I..."
Yang Gong’s lips moved as if to speak, yet he stopped. He had ntioned his brother’s death and invited Hu Ma to join him, but deep down, he had an even more pressing reason.
Hu Ma noticed this but didn’t rush him, silently drinking with him, waiting for Yang Gong to open up.
Several tis Yang Gong felt impelled to speak but hesitated, seemingly out of sha. After a long silence under Hu Ma’s gaze, he finally sighed and said quietly, "Actually, I’m a bit scared."
Uttering those words, he couldn’t lift his head, feeling embarrassed. Hu Ma, however, showed no surprise, rely watched intently.
Yang Gong found it easier to continue, speaking quietly, "More and more brothers are following . They fight whover I direct them to, making cautious with my words. And then there’s...
"My father-in-law—his actions at tis baffle . And my wife... she’s too good to , too good...
"Her entire family treats extrely well, and I want to repay their kindness.
"But the better it is, the more..."
Perhaps failing to find the right words, he paused, his tone heavy. He sighed, "Honestly, I know I’m not worthy of soone like her, such a noble lady.
"Even when we first wed, I wasn’t quite up to the task, lying there rigid as a corpse. But she, she was understanding and comforting, trying to assist with her hand..."
Hu Ma was taken aback for a mont. "No need for such details..." he sighed.
"I fear you won’t understand..."
Yang Gong shot an anxious glance at Hu Ma. "I fear you won’t know how grateful I am to her...
"In essence, marrying such a wife is beyond my wildest dreams. I must ensure her happiness, heed my father-in-law, yet... I do grasp the reality; my actions are increasingly perilous...
"Looking at those I’ve killed now, you’d know...
"Once, the Red Lantern Lady was the peak for , but the adversaries I’m facing now...
"They surpass the Red Lantern Lady by far!
"They..."
His emotions rising, he almost burst out before controlling himself, "They slaughtered over three hundred of my brothers, tying their heads to trees, piling them into mounds."
Spoken in haste, his words stuttered, "Even though we triumphed yesterday, it was only by killing their leader and scattering the others, yet they wiped out over three hundred, sparing none!"
His eyes reddened, biting his lip, unclear whether in anger or fear.
Hu Ma rely watched him silently, neither interrupting nor consoling.
"At that mont, I only sought vengeance for my brothers..."
Yang Gong gritted his teeth and slowly continued, "But arriving today, seeing their forces, my fear returned.
"They amassed so many in a day, arriving from all directions with banners and armor. Their horses are better than ours, and their weapons outshine ours...
"I... I truly felt fear. I couldn’t lead a charge, so I only had the brothers retreat to the mountains and ca to see you."
Hu Ma listened intently until Yang Gong finished. He then sighed lightly, feeling a faint heaviness within.
Yang Gong was truly facing nurous challenges.
This was the real reason for his visit; he genuinely felt fear. Typically boisterous and commanding, in truth, he had always been a sensitive youth who would hide his feelings deep in his heart.
From the beginning until now, his status had changed significantly, yet he had barely had ti to adapt to such life changes before being thrust into his current position...
As Hu Ma remained silent, Yang Gong’s heart filled with a slight unease.
Having experienced so much, his mind was a tangled ss. With no one to confide in, trusting only Hu Ma, he had risked the night journey. But he feared that even Hu Ma might not be able to offer him guidance.
If so, he truly wouldn’t know what to do...
Outside the Green Stone Manor, in the night, pale shadows drifted along with the wind, disappearing silently.
They floated from miles away, gathering into a lantern.
The lantern was held by a Maid in green clothes. She quietly observed the moths fluttering within, listening for a mont before turning toward a black carriage nearby.
The Truth Sect’s Heavenly Destiny General stood by the carriage, yet the Maid ignored him, instead addressing soone inside, "The little ghosts confird it. The food-protection general from the mountains left quietly. He’s now staying at the manor in Green Stone Town ahead."
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